Crow hotline ready to roll

October 27, 1997

It's that time of year again - the crows are back in town.

Crows and crow droppings have become a fall tradition in Hagerstown as thousands of migrating crows fly into the Hub City.

So far, many of the big, black birds are staying away from residential areas and roosting around Maryland Metals Inc. and Central Chemical Corp. near Pennsylvania Avenue, said Mike Heyser, city building inspector.

Heyser said he has received only one complaint, from a Pennsylvania Avenue resident who took care of the problem in early October without city help.

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Residents looking for help shooing the birds away from their homes should call the city's Mission Relocate Crows Hotline at 301-739-8577, ext. KAW (529). Crow sightings also can be called into the hotline.

The city has cassette tapes of crow distress calls to scare the birds away and T-shirts for volunteers who help, Heyser said.

Other methods include banging together pots and pans, a stick and a metal trash can lid, or 2-by-4s.